Thomas j



T. J. D. BECK.

\ Improvement in Flexible Divisions f'o'r Seats.

Patented June 18', 1872.

Inventor.

Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

THOMAS J. DOR SEY BECK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

EMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBLE DiV'lSlONS FOR SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,098, dated June 18,187 2.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Donsnv BECK, of \Vashington, in the countyof "Washington and in the District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Flexible Divisions for Seats; and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing andto the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of myinvention consists in flexible divisions for seats, toindicate the space each person ought to occupy, and yet yield so as toadmit of a very large person occupying one of said spaces, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which myin ventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat with flexible divisionsattached, and Fig. 2 is a front view of a part thereof with a portion ofthe front rail removed.

A represents the bottom, B the back, and

- (l the front rail of a seat, constructed in any of the known and usualways. At suitable intervals on this seat I place flexible divisions 1)D, made of rubber tubing or other suitable material. These divisions maybe attached to the upper and lower edges of the back B, or they may beattached to the upper edge of the back and the front edge of the bottomA. In this latter case there is a slot made at the inner edge of thefront rail 0, and a button, a, or other suitable device, attached to thefront end of each division 1), moves under the rail, and, being attachedto a rubber band, b, or

other suitable spring, which will allow the front or lower end of thedivision to yield when a very large person sits down. The divisionsattached entirely to the back will also yield without any suchadditional attachment. The divisions I) D may be-attached as high up orlow down as may be desired, or in any suitable manner, and may beapplied on any seats-tor in stance, such as seats in street-cars, wherepassengers are often annoyed and com pelled to stand up by othersoccupying more than one seat. It may also be used in churches,theaters,- public halls, or, in fact, anywhere where it is desired toindicate the space each person ought to occupy.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a seat, A, with back B, for containing several persons, theflexible divisions D, as and for thepurposes set forth.

2. In combination with a flexible division for seats, the button a andrubber band b or their equivalents, substantially as and for thepurposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I' have hereunto set my handthis 9th day'of April, 1872. r I

' THOS. J. DORSEY BECK.

Witnesses A. N. MARE, O. L. EvEnT.

